A first time for me to get the Shrike in a river.
Oh yes, he kept a constant eye on me as I was standing on the opposite bank of the river.
At first I thought that he was only going to take a drink, but then to my delighted surprise he decided to take a bath. So I did not move as I knew that if I did, then he would take off. Patience is essential for getting birds on camera and of course the less movement by the photographer, the better. Birds can sense danger and this meat hunter is especially fine tuned with supreme awareness.
Come and see.
This was when he landed and he is a Southern Fiscal Shrike (Lanius collaris).
Did I tell you that he was watching me?
Ah, I was right as here below he took a drink.
But then he popped down into a little shallow pool.
And here to my delight he started to bath.
Look how he peeped at me from behind that rock.
And finally after this he took off so fast that I couldn't get his launch on camera.
Like I said, it was a first for me to get a bathing Shrike, as normally I get the smaller birds like the Swees and the Waxbills bathing in the rock pools here. But then again, we have not been down to this section of the river for a while and maybe Mother nature sent the shrike to welcome us back with a show :)
I have posted them a few times, but never before a bathing shrike and I think you can imagine how glad I was to get this one. So many times we are met with surprises when we come out into nature and that's why I love it so much, as there is constant change and one can never know what one can get.
This was taken at my last visit before my operation the next day and I was back into nature today again, as I am not one that can lay around in a bed.
Besides I got some special photos today that I will show you in another post.
Here's an example below.
A solid reason to get out methinks:)
I hope that you enjoyed the pictures and the story.
And That's All Friends.
Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.
Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.
